Web aligning mechanism



Nov. 12, 1963 G. P. MOGRAW, JR 3,110,624

WEB ALIGNING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR/VfyUnited States Patent 3,119,624 WEB ALEGNHNG MECHANISM George P. McGraw,J23, Downers Grove, llL, assignor to Western Eieetrie Company,Incorporated, a eorperation of New York Filled Feb. 6, 1961, Ser. No.87,392 4 Claims. (Cl. 118-9) This invention relates to web aligningmechanism, and more particularly to mechanism for ascertaining andeffecting the alignment of a web in a metallizing apparatus for applyingstripes of vaporized metal to both sides thereof.

In the art of making one type of wound capacitor, a web of dielectric isplaced in a metallizing apparatus and passed through an applicator forvaporizing metal and applying a plurality of stripes of the vaporizedmetal to one side of the web. The web is passed through the applicator asecond time and a plurality of stripes of vaporized metal are applied tothe other side of the web in predetermined overlapping relation to thestripes on the reverse side. Successive portions of the metallized webare subsequently wound into sticks which are cut into sections midwaybetween the edges of adjacent stripes to form capacitors.

It is desirable that the extent of overlap of the stripes of metal onthe web should be uniform throughout the length of the web so that thecapacitors made from the metallized web shall have uniform values ofcapacitance. However, because of the extreme thinness and flexibility ofthe web there is a tendency of the Web to shift laterally during thetravel of the Web from the supply roll through the applicator to thetake-up arbor. Thus, when the web is run through the applicator for theapplication of stripes of metal to the second side of the web thereoccur variations in the position of the strips on the second side of theweb with respect to the stripes on the first side of the web.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved webaligning mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for ascertainingthe lateral position of a moving web having stripes of metal on one sidethereof in a metallizing apparatus while stripes of vaporized metal arebeing applied to the other side of the strip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for indicatingthe lateral position of a moving web in a metallizing apparatus and formaintaining the device in a predetermined close proximity to the web asthe Web changes its path of travel during the winding of the metallizedweb into a roll.

With these and other objects in view, the invention contemplates theprovision of a housing forming a sealed chamber, and a spindle mountedon the housing for rotation and limited axial movement to support asupply roll of a web of transparent dielectric to be metallized withinthe chamber. The web from the supply roll is passed through ameta-llizing head in the chamber for applying stripes of vaporized metalthereto and the web is guided therefrom around a guide roller and a laydown roller onto a take-up arbor. The lay down roller is supported abovethe arbor on an arm pivotally mounted on the housing and the lay downroller is urged by the arm into engagement with the arbor and themetal-lized web being wound thereon. 1

An apertured gage plate is supported in parallel relation and closeproximity to the web at a point between the guide roller and the laydown roller, and a lamp projects a beam of light through the apertureonto the web between a pair of the metal stripes applied to the firstside of the web. A window is provided in the housing so that theoperator may observe the relation of the metal stripes on the first sideof the web to the stationary illuminated gaging spot projected onto theWeb to ascertain the position of the web relative to the metallizinghead whereby the operator may adjust axially the position of the spindleand the web supply thereon to correct any lateral shifting andmisalignment of the web during the application of the stripes ofvaporized metal onto the second side of the web.

The gage plate is mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of theguide roller and is connected by linkage to the arm for supporting thelay down roller so that as the web is Wound on the arbor and the size ofthe take-up roll increases, the gage plate moves angularly with the Weband is maintained in close and parallel relation thereto to present aclearly defined spot of light of constant size on the Web to serve as astationary reference point for the lateral alignment of the moving web.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a metallizingapparatus showing the present invention there- 011;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through a metallized web and aportion of the gage for aligning the web in the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the apparatus taken online 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the web of dielectric having stripes ofvaporized metal on both sides thereof and indicated as looking at theweb in the direction of the arrows44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the apparatustaken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational sectional view of aportion of the apparatus showing the gage plate thereon and indicated astaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6showing the gage plate and the mounting thereof adjacent one of theguide rollers of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the metallizing apparatus 15 (FIG. 1) isdesigned to apply a plurality of stripes 17 of vaporized metal (FIG-S.2-5) onto one side of a thin web 18 of transparent plastic dielectricmaterial in one operation and to apply a plurality of stripes 17 ofvaporized metal onto the opposite side of the web in a secondmetallizing operation. As shown in FIG. 2, the web of dielectric 18 hasthree stripes 17 of metal applied to one side thereof and four stripesof metal 17 applied to the opposite side thereof with portions of thestripes on opposite sides of the web positioned in overlying relation toeach other. The stripes 17 are of a predetermined uniform width exceptfor the marginal stripes on the second side which are narrower, and thestripes are spaced apart from adjacent stripes a predetermined distance.Sections of the metallized web thus formed are wound into capacitorsticks which are severed transversely along planes disposed midwaybetween the edges of the metal stripes to form capacitors. In order thatthe capacitors may have uniform capacitance values it is essential thatthe extent of overlap of the portions of the stripes on opposite sidesof the dielectric strip should be the same and uniform throughout.

The metallizing apparatus 15 comprises a vertically disposed circularframe plate 25 and a removable cupshape-d hood 26 which cooperate toform a housing enclosing a chamber 27 from which the air may beevacuated. A spindle 36 is mounted for rotation and for limited axialmovement in a bearing 31 (FIG. 3) on the vertical 3 frame plate 25 forsupporting a supply roll as of the web 13 thereon within the chamber.The supply roll is held on the spindle 3% against axial movementrelative thereto by a shoulder 34 and a removable collar 3.).

One end 36 of the spindle 3b is also rotatably supported in a slideblock 37 and is secured thereto for axial movement therewith by collars38. The slide block 37 is mounted for sliding movement in a supportmember 49 on the vertical frame plate 25 and has a rack 42 formed on oneside thereof. Meshing with the rack 42 is a gear 43 fixed to a shaft 44which is journalled in the support member and extends in a substantiallyhorizontal direction therefrom and has an operating wheel 46 secured tothe other end thereof outside of the chamber 27 by means of which thespindle 3i may be adjusted axially.

The web 153 is guided from the supply roll 33 by a plurality of guiderollers 51-53 (FIG. 1) to an applicator or metallizi-ng head 55 forapplying stripes of vaporized metal onto the web and the web is guidedfrom the head 55 by guide rollers 57 and 58 onto a movable lay down roll59 which guides the web onto a take-up arbor oil. The guide rollers l55,57 and 523 are rotatable about fixed axes. The lay down roller 59 isrotatably supported on one end of an arm 64 which is supported on thevertical frame plate 25 for pivotal movement about a pin 6%. Rotation isimparted to the arbor 6% by mechanism including a motor as (FIG. 1).

The metallizing head 55 serves to vaporize a metal such as aluminum, thevaporized metal being directed upwardly onto the underside of the web 18in a predetermined pattern through apertures of a removable grid or mask79 of the head 55. The grid 76 may be replaced by other gridsforeffecting the application of the vaporized metal onto the web is indifferent patterns.

A gaging device/7i is provided for indicating the lateral position ofthe web 18 within the chamber 25 relative to the applicator 55. A window72 is also provided in the housing through which the web and the gagingdevice 71 may be seen by an operator. The gaging device includes a flatgage plate '73 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 7) positioned parallel and in closeproximity to the web 18 as the web advances from the guide roll 53 ontothe lay down roll The gage plate 73 is provided with a round aperture74: through which a beam of light is directed onto the web 18 from alight source in the form of a fluorescent lamp 76. The lamp 76 ismounted in a suitable lamp base 77 which is secured to a plate '7 8attached to the gage plate '73. A pair of brackets 8i? extending fromthe lamp base '77 support a mirror 79 for reflecting the light from thelamp 77 toward the gage plate 73.

The plate 78 is secured to an arm 83 which has a hub 84- (FlG. 6)mounted on a shaft 85 that is secured to the frame plate 25 and supportsthe guide roll 5?. The arm 83 is held against axial movement by spacingcollars 85 on the shaft 35 engage-able with the hub $4. A link 88pivotally interconnects one end of the arm 83 and an intermediateportion of the arm 6%. The arrangement of the arm 83, link and arm 64 issuch as to effect the movement of the gage plate 73 and maintain it inclose and parallel relation to the web 13 as the web advances from theguide roll 58 onto the lay down roll 59 and as the angular position or"the web changes with the size of the take-up roll of the web. 7

With the gage plate '73 maintained in close and parallel relation to themoving web 18, the spot of illumination projected onto the web is alwaysmaintained in sharp and definite outline at all times during theprocessing of the web. It has been found that a circular illuminatedspot of a size slig itly less than the spacing between adjacent bands ofmetal on the web is well suited to serve as a stationary gage orreference point relative to which the position of the metal stripes andthe Web may be readily ascertained by inspection, Thus the operator by V4 observing the web and the gage may readily determine when the web hasshifted laterally to a misaligned position at which times he may turnthe handle 46 and move the spindle 3t? axially to adjust the position ofthe supply roll 33 and correct the misalignment of the web relative tothe metallizing head 55.

in the operation of the device, a supply roll 33 of uncoated we 1% oftransparent dielectric is mounted on the spindle 3% of the metallizingapparatus 15, and after the metallizing apparatus is set up, the web 18is advanced through the metallizing head 55, threebands of vaporizedmetal i? are applied onto the first or lower side of the web, and theweb is wound into a roll on the arbor 60. The mid "ill of themetallizing head is then replaced with another grid for applying fourbands of metal in a pattern disclosed in FIG. 5. The roll of web 18metallized on one side is then mounted on the spindle 36 of themetallizing apparatus and advanced through the metallizing head 55 andfour bands of vaporized metal are applied onto the second side of theweb. During its movement from the head 55 onto the arbor 60, the webpasses over the gaging device 71 and the circular spot of light isprojected thereon between a pair of adjacent metallizcd bands 17 on thefirst or lower surface of the stripes as shown in FIG. 2.

The edges of the pair of adjacent metal stripes 17 on the lower surfaceof the strip and the spot of light projected onto the web between thesestripes are visible through the web 18 and the microscopically thinstrip 17 of vaporized metal on the upper side of the web 18, the spot oflight serving as a stationary reference or gaging element which isreadily seen by the operator through the window 2. By frequentinspection of the web and the selected stripes of metal thereon relativeto the stationary gage aperture 174 illuminated spot on the web theoperator may readily ascertain the position of the web l3 relative tothe metallizing head 55 and manipulate the control wheel 46 to eriectthe lateral shifting of the supply roll 33 to correct any misalignmentof the web 18 relative to the metallizing head and thus obtain theapplication of the stripes 17 of metal to the second side of the web inproper registration with the stripes of metal on the first side of theweb.

A second gage aperture 174 is provided in the gage plate 73 of the samesize as the gage aperture 74. The is spaced a predetermined distancefrom the gage aperture and is used for ascertaining the lateral positionof the web 18 when the web is metallized by first rap-plying four bandsto one side of the web and subsequently applying three bands to thesecond side of the strip.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of this invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. in an apparatus for applying stripes to opposite sides of a web, asupport means, a spindle mounted on said support means for supporting asupply roll of a transparent web having stripes on one side thereof, anapplicator on said support means for applying stripes to the other sideof the web, an arbor mounted on said support means for winding the webthereon, a guide mounted on said support means for guiding the web fromsaid applicator onto said arbor, means for adjusting the spindle axiallyto align the web with said applicator, a gage having an aperturetherein, means for projecting a beam of light through the aperture of'said gage onto the web in between a pair of stripes on said one side ofthe web, means for supporting said gage between said guide and saidarbor in close proximity to the path of movement of the web and formovement angularly with the web, and

means including an element engageable with the periphcry of the roll ofweb on said arbor for moving said gage to maintain it in close proximityto the web as the roll of web on the arbor increases in size,

2. In a metallizing appmatus, a housing provided with a window andforming a chamber, a spindle mounted on said housing for supporting asupply roll of a transparent web of dielectric having stripes of metalon one side thereof, a metall-izing head on said housing for applyingstrip-es of vaporized metal on the other side of the web, an arbormounted on said housing for winding the Web thereon, guide meansincluding a roller located adjacent to said window for guiding the webthrough said metallizing head and onto the anbor and the take-up roll ofstrip being wound thereon, means for adjusting the spindle axially toalign the web with said metallizing head, a gage plate having anaperture therein alignable with the web I between adjacent stripes ofmetal on said one side of the web, means mounted adjacent to said gageplate for projecting a beam of light through the aperture onto the web,means for supporting said gage plate in parallel and close proximity tothe path of movement of the web at a point between said guide roller andsaid arbor and for movement angularly with the Web, and means includinga roller engageable with the periphery of the take-up roll of web foreffecting the movement of said gage plate to maintain said gage plate inclose and parallel relation to the web as the take-up roll of Webincreases in size.

3. In an apparatus for applying stripes of vaporized metal onto a web oftransparent dielectric, a housing provided with a window and forming achamber, a spindle mounted on said housing for supporting a roll of theweb having stripes of metal on one side thereof, vaporizer mounted onsaid housing in said chamber for depositing stripes of vaporized metalon the other side of the web, an arbor rotatably mounted on said housingwithin said chamber for winding the web thereon, a lay down roller forguiding the web onto said arbor, an arm pivoted on said housing forsupporting said lay down roller for movement toward said arbor, guidemeans including a roller located adjacent to said window for guiding theweb along a predetermined path through said vaporizer and onto said laydown roller, means for adjusting said spindle axially to align the webwith said vaporizer, a gage registerable with the web between thestripes ott metal on said one side of the web, means for mounting saidgage on said housing in close proximity to the Web and against movementparallel to the axis of said arbor and for viewing through said window,and means moved by said arm tor moving said gage mounting means andmaintaining said gage in close proximity to the path of travel of theweb as the web is being wound onto said arbor.

4. In an apparatus for applying stripes of vaporized metal onto a web ofdielectric, a housing provided with a window and forming a chamber, aspindle mounted on said housing for supportingwithin said chamber a rollof the web having stripes of metal on one side thereof, an applicatormountedon said housing in said chamber for applying stripes of vaporizedmetal on the other side of the web, an arbor rotatably mounted on saidhousing within said chamber for winding the web thereon, a lay downroller for guiding the web onto the take-up roll, a first arm pivotallymounted on said housing for supporting the lay down roller and urging itonto the arbor and the web being wound thereon, guide means including aroller located adjacent to said window for guiding the web through saidapplicator and onto said lay down roller, means for adjusting thespindle axially to align the web with said applicator, a second armmounted on said housing for pivotal movement about the axis of saidguide roller and against axial movement, a gage plate secured to saidsecond arm in parallel and close proximity to the path of movement ofthe Web from said guide roller onto said lay down roller, said guideplate having an aperture therein alignable with the web between adjacentstripes of metal on said one side of the web, means mounted on saidsecond arm for projecting a beam of light through the aperture of saidgage plate onto the web, and means interconnecting said first and saidsecond arms to client the movement of said second arm in response tomovement of said first arm for maintaining said gage plate in paralleland close proximity to the web as the web is wound onto said arbor.

OTHER REFERENCES Holland: Vapor Deposition of Thin Films (1956), N.Y.Wiley (pp. 260-263 and plate 7 relied upon).

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING STRIPES TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF A WEB, ASUPPORT MEANS, A SPINDLE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ASUPPLY ROLL OF A TRANSPARENT WEB HAVING STRIPES ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, ANAPPLICATOR ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR APPLYING STRIPES TO THE OTHER SIDEOF THE WEB, AN ARBOR MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR WINDING THE WEBTHEREON, A GUIDE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR GUIDING THE WEB FROMSAID APPLICATOR ONTO SAID ARBOR, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE SPINDLE AXIALLYTO ALIGN THE WEB WITH SAID APPLICATOR, A GAGE HAVING AN APERTURETHEREIN, MEANS FOR PROJECTING A BEAM OF LIGHT THROUGH THE APERTURE OFSAID GAGE ONTO THE WEB IN BETWEEN A PAIR OF STRIPES ON SAID ONE SIDE OFTHE WEB, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID GAGE BETWEEN SAID GUIDE AND SAIDARBOR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE WEB AND FORMOVEMENT ANGULARLY WITH THE WEB, AND MEANS INCLUDING AN ELEMENTENGAGEABLE WITH THE PERIPHERY OF THE ROLL OF WEB ON SAID ARBOR FORMMOVING SAID GAGE TO MAINTAIN IT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE WEB AS THEROLL OF WEB ON THE ARBOR INCREASES IN SIZE.